septicaemia

British

/ ˌsɛptɪˈsiːmɪə /

noun

Nontechnical name: blood poisoning. a condition caused by pus-forming microorganisms in the blood See also bacteraemia pyaemia

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

septicaemic adjective

Etymology

Origin of septicaemia

C19: from New Latin, from Greek sēptik ( os ) _septic + _-aemia

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Emily Walls, 18, developed septicaemia and was on a ventilator after getting chickenpox more than 15 years ago.

From BBC • Jan. 4, 2026

It is used to treat illnesses ranging from septicaemia to pneumonia to meningitis.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2025

The deaths of 25 elephants in neighbouring Zimbabwe from septicaemia in the same year cast some doubt on algal toxins being the reason for the Botswana deaths.

From Science Daily • Nov. 29, 2024

It is difficult to diagnose melioidosis as symptoms vary from localised abscess or pneumonia to acute septicaemia, or may present as a chronic infection.

From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2024

NEPHRITIS.—Congestion and inflammation of the kidneys commonly occur in mixed and specific infectious diseases, such as septicaemia, pyaemia and influenza.

From Common Diseases of Farm Animals by Craig, R. A., D. V. M.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023